The park is situated in the heart of the central Apennines, 160 km south-east of Rome, on the upper course of the river Sangro. It is a limestone and dolomite massif influenced by karst phenomena and glaciations with peaks of 2000m and more. It is noted for very hot summers and heavy winter snowfalls.

Coastal area bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea in the province of Grosseto in the Tuscany region; rectangular shape with a length of 25 km. and a maximal width of 7,5 km.; it has an alluvial character in the north and hilly in the centre and south. The plain along the river Ombrone are used for agriculture with scattered settlements. The wetlands near the mouth of the river are bogy and are designated under the Ramsar Convention. The Hilly area is mainly formed by the limestone ridge called "Monti dell'Uccellina". The most southern part is touching the sea with a high and eroding coast. The nature of the hills is mostly calcareous and only partly silicious.

The Alpi Marittime Nature Park, a former royal hunting reserve in the Piedmont region, is twinned with the Mercantour National Park. These two areas are on opposite sides of the same Alpine massif, in the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes, considered to be the prime habitat for endemic species in the Alps.

The two parks have taken successful joint action, particularly with regard to reintroduction operations (ibex, lammergeyer).

The combination of microclimates, geological events, glaciation and the great variety of rock types have resulted in a flora unique in Europe, with the simultaneous presence of species of very different origins.

Montecristo is a rocky island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, situated 45 km off Elba: the highest point is 645m above sea level. Sparse vegetation in the rocky sites. Characteristic mediterranean flora and fauna.

The Migliarino, San Rossore and Massaciuccoli Regional Park stretches along the Tyrrhenian coastline from Viareggio to Livorno, near Pisa, and covers approximately 23.000 hectares. At first sight, the Park is immense woodland of stone-pines (Pinus pinea) which are typical of the Tuscan coastline and landscape. Inside, there is a great variety of natural and semi-natural settings ranging from dunes to sandy shores and from hygrophilous forests to marshlands, from pinewoods to agricultural land.

Sasso Fratino is situated on the north-eastern side of the Apennines (650-1520m), about 60 km north-east of Florence. Its position north of the watershed places it in the zone of influence of the Adriatic; in the Emilia-Romagna region, it forms part of the Casentino State Forest which covers more than 10.000 ha in all.